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Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0412.PDF
JUNE 24, 1926 meantime a few statistics may serve to throw a certain amount of light on the" merits of the flight. Leaving Cairo on March 1, Tabora was reached on March 17. During March 18 the flight carried out Army co-operation work with the military at Tabora, and the journey south was continued on March 19, Capetown being reached on April 12. It should be jealised that no effort was being made to cover the distance in " record " time, but that the flight was being carried out according to a schedule prepared beforehand. The distance from Cairo to Capetown was 5,289 miles, and the average speed was approxi- mately 84 m.p.h. The return journey was commenced on April 19, and Cairo was reached on May 27, the mileage covered up till then being 10,881. The average speed on the homeward journey was approxi- mately 80 m.p.h. Leaving Cairo on May 29 the four machines were flown to Aboukir, there to be fitted with floats for the journey to England. Including the flight from Cairo to Aboukir the four Fairey machines had covered 11,001 miles. But this figure does not include the mileage flown during co-operation with the Army at Tabora. By the time the machines reached Lee-on-Solent they had covered, including the Tabora " show," rather more than 14,000 miles. As there were four machines in the flight this represents some 56,000 " machine-miles." As far as can be gathered from such official information as is available at the moment, there were but two cases during the whole flight when trouble of any sort was experienced. On the outward journey a start was made from Kosti for Malakal, but the machines had to return to Kosti owing to a severe sandstorm. On the homeward journey the flight had left Aswan for Assiut, but one of the machines developed oil trouble and a return to Aswan was made. This appears to be the sum total of the departures from the schedule laid down before the start of the flight. Truly one of the most remarkable performances ever put up by air- craft of any nationality. Concerning the Fairey HID machines and their Napier " Lion " engines, it may be said that the former looked " as good as ever " on their arrival at Lee-on-Solent last Monday, and as if, apart from a few touches of dope and varnish here and there, they were perfectly fit to go on another long flight. The engines could not, of course, be inspected in detail, and it is impossible to express any opinion until they have been stripped for examination. From the fact, however, that they have run without complaint for more than 14,000 miles each it is fair to assume that their condition is satisfactory, and the flight has served to demonstrate that water-cooled aero engines will function under tropical conditions when properly looked after. Mr. Cobham's flight to the Cape and back, and the long flight of the Bristol " Bloodhound '' between Croydon and Bristol, showed that British air-cooled engines will face the most adverse weather conditions. The K.A.F. Cape flight has proved that British water-cooled engines are quite as " hardy," so that there is cause for satisfaction all round with British aero engines, the prestige of which cannot fail to have been greatly strengthened by such splendid performances. HOME FROM THE CAPE : Wing-Commander Pulford, O.B.E., A.F.C., p.s.a., receives uniform con- gratulations from the Navy, Army and Air Force. Shaking hands with Commander Pulford is Captain H. C. Rawlings, D.S.O., a Naval officer attached to the Air Ministry for Air Duties. Looking on smilingly is Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Salmond of the Air Council, while behind Sir Geoffrey is Air Vice- Marshal Sir Ivo Vesey, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., p.s.c, Director of Organisation and Staff Duties at the Air Ministry. Sir Ivo is wearing major-general's uniform. 358
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